Police took unusual steps to get potentially lifesaving information

It is extraordinarily unusual, perhaps even unprecedented, for police to name and even issue a picture of a suspect in custody.

But there's a sense here now that these are desperate times and perhaps desperate measures are needed.

I understand Dyfed-Powys Police took legal advice before taking this decision and went ahead on the basis that issuing such an appeal could potentially generate lifesaving information.

I also understand that when Mark Bridger was arrested yesterday, police carried out a 'safety interview'.

Instead of taking him back to the police station to begin questioning, they asked him some very specific questions there and then before he'd had any legal advice: Do you know where April is? Is there anything you can tell us that could help safeguard her?